1Editor: Tom Schumaker, Death Art-Sisco,Chk,Vick, Publication: January 31,1966, 24 Oct 2000, Wabash Carnagie Library, Hill Street, Wabash,Ind. 46992, Volume 107 (? 197 or 187?) Number 147. "WABASH PLAIN DEALER Publication: January 31,1966 Editor: Tom Schumaker Volume 107 (? 197 or 187?) Number 147 TWO CHILDREN DIE IN FIRE Lagro -- The lives of two infant children were snuffed out here early Monday morning in an apartment house fire. Dead were Charles Ray Sisco, 3, and his sister Vickie Jo, nine months old. Both deaths attributed to asphyxiation by Wabash County Coroner Dr. Richard LaSalle. Eight other people in the apartment house escaped. The dead children's mother, Mrs. Otic (Joan) Sisco 19, was, however, hospitalized with facial burns. She also was suffering from shock, local officials reported. The fire was caused by an over-heated coal stove, according to local Sheriff's Department members and Indiana State Police, who investigated. The stove was located in the room where both Sisco children were sleeping. Fire broke out in the two story frame dwelling, located one block west of Ind. 524 on Main Street, at approximately 1:30 a.m. The blaze was discovered by the Sisco children's mother. The father was working at Wabash Smelting when the fire started. She ran from the apartment house, frantically yelling for help. Herman Herrell, local town night marshal, heard the screams while checking doors in the business district. A neighbor, Maud Props, who lives directly north across the street. She immediately turned in the fire alarm. "I was in bed when I heard the screams from across the street," Mrs. Props said. "At first, I thought it possibly was a couple of girls playing in the street, but then I realized it was too late for that. I went to my bedroom window and looked out and then saw flames shooting from the house window." "Immediately, I called the local fire department, " she continued. "I kept hearing this woman yell 'Get my children out!" and 'My children are in there!', she said. I saw two men standing near the burning house, but I have no idea who they were. They are the ones that shouted for someone to call the fire department." The Sisco family had lived in the apartment house for approximately three months, a neighbor estimated. They moved here from another apartment house located across the street. One neighbor thought the family had moved to Lagro several months ago from Urbana. The fire alarm was immediately answered by the Lagro department. Assistance later was provided by Urbana and Wabash departments. Investigating officers said as far as they know, no one was able to enter the burning apartment in hopes of rescuing the children. "Mr. Harrell told us when he got to the fire he went to the door, but the flames were too hot for him to enter," an officer reported. The frame dwelling contained two other apartments. An upstairs apartment was vacant. An adjoining street level apartment, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. James Miller and five children was badly damaged. All seven members of the Miller family escaped uninjured. The apartment house was owned by Mrs. Rosie Crawford, Fayettsville, N.C. Fire also spread to the roof of the neighboring St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Damage there was held to a minimum. "We understand the apartment house had been heated the past several years with oil heaters." a state trooper said. " Apparently, the coal stove was just added this year." Investigating officers praised the efforts of the three fire departments. "They did an excellent job of keeping the fire from spreading in the zero weather," officials said. The bodies of the two children were not discovered until 8:30 a.m. Monday. Both children apparently were sleeping in a northeast bedroom where the coal stove was located. Three members of a North Manchester family, Mrs. Phyllis Plew, 39, and two of her three children, Kenton Robert, 8, and Christina Marie, 2, burned in a similar fire Dec. 28, 1962. One child, Steven, 14 at that time, escaped with serious burns.".
2Wabash Plain Dealer, Obit-Sisco,Chk,Vick, 24 Oct 2000, Wabash Carnagie Library, Hill Street, Wabash,Ind. 46992. "Wabash Plain Dealer Obituaries Date: February 1,1966 Charles Ray Sisco Vickie Jo Sisco Funeral services for Charles Ray Sisco, 3, and sister, Vickie JoSisco, nine months, children of Otis and Jo Ann (Thacker) Sisco,Lagro, who died late Sunday night in a fire which destroyed their apartment home will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Eddingfield MortuaruChapel. The Rev. Robert McCarty will officiate and burial will be inMemorial Lawns Cemetery. Charles Ray's birth occurred July 6, 1962 at Dayton, Ohio and VickieJo was born in Wabash, April 30, 1965. Survivors include the parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. ParisSisco, Van Lear, Ky, and Mrs. Josephine Thacker, Allen, Ky. Charles Ray Sisco - Vickie Jo Sisco Funeral services for Charles Ray and Vickie Jo Sisco were heldWednesday afternoon in the Eddingfield Mortuary Chapel with the Rev.Robert McCarty officiating. Burial was in Memorial Lawns Cemetery. Mrs. Waldo Finfrock was the organist.".
1Editor: Tom Schumaker, Death Art-Sisco,Chk,Vick, Publication: January 31,1966, 24 Oct 2000, Wabash Carnagie Library, Hill Street, Wabash,Ind. 46992, Volume 107 (? 197 or 187?) Number 147. "WABASH PLAIN DEALER Publication: January 31,1966 Editor: Tom Schumaker Volume 107 (? 197 or 187?) Number 147 TWO CHILDREN DIE IN FIRE Lagro -- The lives of two infant children were snuffed out here early Monday morning in an apartment house fire. Dead were Charles Ray Sisco, 3, and his sister Vickie Jo, nine months old. Both deaths attributed to asphyxiation by Wabash County Coroner Dr. Richard LaSalle. Eight other people in the apartment house escaped. The dead children's mother, Mrs. Otic (Joan) Sisco 19, was, however, hospitalized with facial burns. She also was suffering from shock, local officials reported. The fire was caused by an over-heated coal stove, according to local Sheriff's Department members and Indiana State Police, who investigated. The stove was located in the room where both Sisco children were sleeping. Fire broke out in the two story frame dwelling, located one block west of Ind. 524 on Main Street, at approximately 1:30 a.m. The blaze was discovered by the Sisco children's mother. The father was working at Wabash Smelting when the fire started. She ran from the apartment house, frantically yelling for help. Herman Herrell, local town night marshal, heard the screams while checking doors in the business district. A neighbor, Maud Props, who lives directly north across the street. She immediately turned in the fire alarm. "I was in bed when I heard the screams from across the street," Mrs. Props said. "At first, I thought it possibly was a couple of girls playing in the street, but then I realized it was too late for that. I went to my bedroom window and looked out and then saw flames shooting from the house window." "Immediately, I called the local fire department, " she continued. "I kept hearing this woman yell 'Get my children out!" and 'My children are in there!', she said. I saw two men standing near the burning house, but I have no idea who they were. They are the ones that shouted for someone to call the fire department." The Sisco family had lived in the apartment house for approximately three months, a neighbor estimated. They moved here from another apartment house located across the street. One neighbor thought the family had moved to Lagro several months ago from Urbana. The fire alarm was immediately answered by the Lagro department. Assistance later was provided by Urbana and Wabash departments. Investigating officers said as far as they know, no one was able to enter the burning apartment in hopes of rescuing the children. "Mr. Harrell told us when he got to the fire he went to the door, but the flames were too hot for him to enter," an officer reported. The frame dwelling contained two other apartments. An upstairs apartment was vacant. An adjoining street level apartment, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. James Miller and five children was badly damaged. All seven members of the Miller family escaped uninjured. The apartment house was owned by Mrs. Rosie Crawford, Fayettsville, N.C. Fire also spread to the roof of the neighboring St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Damage there was held to a minimum. "We understand the apartment house had been heated the past several years with oil heaters." a state trooper said. " Apparently, the coal stove was just added this year." Investigating officers praised the efforts of the three fire departments. "They did an excellent job of keeping the fire from spreading in the zero weather," officials said. The bodies of the two children were not discovered until 8:30 a.m. Monday. Both children apparently were sleeping in a northeast bedroom where the coal stove was located. Three members of a North Manchester family, Mrs. Phyllis Plew, 39, and two of her three children, Kenton Robert, 8, and Christina Marie, 2, burned in a similar fire Dec. 28, 1962. One child, Steven, 14 at that time, escaped with serious burns.".
2Wabash Plain Dealer, Obit-Sisco,Chk,Vick, 24 Oct 2000, Wabash Carnagie Library, Hill Street, Wabash,Ind. 46992. "Wabash Plain Dealer Obituaries Date: February 1,1966 Charles Ray Sisco Vickie Jo Sisco Funeral services for Charles Ray Sisco, 3, and sister, Vickie JoSisco, nine months, children of Otis and Jo Ann (Thacker) Sisco,Lagro, who died late Sunday night in a fire which destroyed their apartment home will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Eddingfield MortuaruChapel. The Rev. Robert McCarty will officiate and burial will be inMemorial Lawns Cemetery. Charles Ray's birth occurred July 6, 1962 at Dayton, Ohio and VickieJo was born in Wabash, April 30, 1965. Survivors include the parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. ParisSisco, Van Lear, Ky, and Mrs. Josephine Thacker, Allen, Ky. Charles Ray Sisco - Vickie Jo Sisco Funeral services for Charles Ray and Vickie Jo Sisco were heldWednesday afternoon in the Eddingfield Mortuary Chapel with the Rev.Robert McCarty officiating. Burial was in Memorial Lawns Cemetery. Mrs. Waldo Finfrock was the organist.".
1Eddingfield Mortuary, Int-Sisco,Diane G., 1953-1977, 24 Oct 2000, Wabash Carnagie Library, Hill Street, Wabash,Ind. 46992, Page 291. "*Cause of Death: SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome ABSTRACTS FROM EDDINGFIELD MORTUARY WABASH COUNTY, INDIANA SEPTEMBER 1953 - SEPTEMBER 1977 Sisco, Dianna Gail. Born March 23, died June 12, 1970, in Wabash. Daughter of Otis & Sandra (Leithold) Sisco. Sister Debra Sue; grandparents Mr. & Mrs. John Sisco of Meally, Ky, Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Westburg of Chicago. Services with Rev. Robert McCarty, Free Will Baptist Church. Burial in Memorial Lawns. Page 291." *Cause of Death: SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.